Course code VadZ6020

Credit points 3

Innovation and Creativity

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures12

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes12

Independent study hours57

Date of course confirmation30.09.2020

Responsible UnitInstitute of Social Sciences and Humanities

Course developer

author Sociālo un humanitāro zinātņu institūts

Jolanta Millere

Dr. sc. soc.

Prior knowledge

PolZ5010, Public and Nongovernmental Sector

Soci6013, Organization Studies

Course abstract

The aim of the study course is to develop the understanding of master students about innovations and innovation-oriented actions, with special emphasis on social innovation and creativity as a development-promoting tool in the context of organizations and public administration. The role of innovations and creativity in the implementation of social processes of the society, as well as the essence of the innovation management process and specific aspects of the innovative activity are reviewed during the course. The importance of social innovation in research, education, social, cultural, as well as other areas relevant to the sustainable development of society is described. Master students are introduced with innovative activities in Latvia and abroad, as well as creative personality as a basis of innovative activity.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge on innovations, their types, basic conditions of implementation in the field of organizations and public administration. Knowledge on the innovation process, emphasizing the specifics of social innovation, its management and risk management. Knowledge on innovative activity evaluation, evaluation methods of results , as well as on innovations' system. Knowledge on creativity, components of creativity, as well as factors influencing creativity. Knowledge on presentation, as well as social innovations, their connection with the development trends of society in the specific fields, such as education, health care, culture, etc. Tests, individual work.
SKILLS
Professional skills. Able to explain, analyze and discuss various types of innovations, including social innovation as well as able to analyse these innovations in relation to the development trends of the society, as well as to find innovative solutions in the management of various sectors of society in the context of sustainable society development. Is able to select the necessary information about social innovations, analyze it. Is able to critically evaluate the need for social innovation in the management of social processes in society, as well as to assess the role of a creative personality in managing social change in the sector. Discussions, situation analysis, individual works, group works, tests.
General skills. Able to responsibly plan the execution of assigned tasks. Able to engage and take responsibility for group work results and it's analysis. Is able to argue his / her point of view by analyzing various innovation-related processes in both the organizational and public administration sectors. Able to find innovative solutions to improve the performance of sectors. Individual work, group works, discussions, tests.
COMPETENCE. Is able to independently formulate and critically analyze different types of innovations, as well as innovation-oriented activities, is able to describe the sphere of innovation as a system, emphasizing the interrelation of system’s elements in the context of sustainable development of society. Is able to independently prepare and present material on social innovations in one field, emphasizing the connection of these innovations with the development trends of society in the specific field. Is able to independently describe a creative personality, as well as critically evaluate the need for creativity in the implementation of innovations, including social innovations. Individual work, group work, discussions, situation analysis, tests.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. The change as a driving force for the development of nowadays society. (1 hour)
2. Innovations, diversity of innovations. Types of innovations, their specifics. (1 hour)
3. Social innovations, their specific aspects. The need for social innovation in the management of social processes in society. (1 hour)
4. Innovation process, process management. Innovation management in organizations and public administration - common and different. (2 hours)
5. Innovation project, its implementation stages. Innovation projects in organizations in various fields, as well as in public administration. (1 hour)
6. Innovation-oriented evaluation methods and evaluation of innovative results. Methods for evaluating the results. (2 hours)
7. Creativity, its components. Creative personality and innovative solutions in organizations and public administration. (2 hours)
8. Lifelong learning as an innovative approach to human capital formation. (1 hour)
9. The impact of rapid technological development on the development of industries and the role of innovation in promoting this development. (1 hour)

List of practical works and seminars (12 hours):
1. Characteristics of innovations, its diversity. (1 hour)
2. Innovation, its role in the management of organizations and public administration. (1 hour)
3. Test: The concept of innovation, types, basic conditions for the implementation of innovations in the field of organizations and public administration. (1 hour)
4. Description of the innovation process. (1 hour)
5. Possibilities of application of the method “Black box”. (2 hours)
6. Test: Social innovations, social innovation process. (1 hour)
7. The role of innovations’ infrastructure in the development of innovation projects. (1 hour)
8. Test: Creativity, its role in the implementation of innovation-oriented activities. (1 hour)
9. Modern innovations in Latvia and in the world. (1 hour)
10. Presentations of individual work. (2 hours)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Successful assessment must be obtained in three tests, as well as in independently developed individual work. Active participation in practical classes.

Acquisition of the study course in distance learning is organized in accordance with the order of the Vice-Rector for Studies “On the procedure of e-studies at LLU”, a study course acquisition schedule is created for each semester. Students acquire the topics included in the study course independently, using the materials created and inserted by the lecturer in the e-learning environment Moodle. Feedback on the acquisition of topics in lectures and seminars in distance learning is organized in the form of self-examination tests, discussion forums and individual assignments, as well as face-to-face or online consultations, lectures and final examinations according to the schedule.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

One independent individual work should be developed, it should be presented: description of social innovations in one field, emphasizing the relation with the development trends of the society in the specific field, for example, education, health care, culture, etc.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Test with a mark. Its criteria for assessment of learning outcomes consist of: 3 tests - 60%
1 individual work, its presentation - 40%

Compulsory reading

1. Matthews H.C., Brueggemann F.R. (2015). Innovation and entrepreneurship: a competency framework. New York: Routledge, 345 p.
2. Trott P. (2017). Innovation management and new product development. 6th edition. Harlow, England: Pearson. Pieejams: http://lib.stikes-mw.id/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MANAJEMEN-PENGEMBANGAN-PRODUK.pdf
3. Boļšakovs, S. (2008). Inovatīvā darbība Latvijā. Rīga: Jumava, 323 lpp.
4. Observatory of Public Sector Innovation. Measuring Public Sector Innovation Why, when, how, for whom and where to? (2020). Horizon, Framework Programme of the European Union. Pieejams: https://oecd-opsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Measuring-Public-Sector-Innovation-Part-5b-of-Lifecycle.pdf

5. Osburg T., Schmidpeter R. (Eds) (2013). Social Innovation: Solutions for a Sustainable Future. New York: Springer, 323 p. Pieejams: https://isfcolombia.uniandes.edu.co/images/2020-20/Semana_10/S10_Schmidpeter_Social_Innovation_Solutions_for_a_Sustainable_Future.pdf

Further reading

1. Fagerberg J., Mowery D., Nelson R. (2005). The Oxford handbook of Innovations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 656 p.
2. Yusuf S. (2007). From creativity to innovation. Pieejams: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=996168
3. Roger E. M. (2003). The Diffusion of Innovation. New York: Free Press, 551 p.
4. Žukovskis J., K. Shaposhnykov. (2016). Innovations in the Development of Socio-Economic Systems: Microeconomic, Macroeconomic and Mesoeconomic Levels. Business and Rural Development Management Institute. Riga. Kaunas: Baltija Publishing. Pieejams: https://ej.uz/155d

Periodicals and other sources

1. Innovation: zinātne + bizness. E-Žurnāls. Rīga: RTU izdevniecība, 2018. Pieejams: https://www.rtu.lv/writable/public_files/RTU_innovation_2018_rudens_small_link.pdf
2. Inovācijas atbalsta struktūras, programmas Latvijā. Pieejams: http://innovation.lv/inovacijas-politika/
3. Zinātnes un tehnoloģijas attīstības un inovācijas pamatnostādnes 2014.-2020.gadam. Pieejams: http://polsis.mk.gov.lv/documents/4608
4. Nacionālās industriālās politikas pamatnostādnēs 2014.-2020.gadam. Pieejams: http://polsis.mk.gov.lv/documents/4391
5. Social Innovations Journal, ISSN: 2692-2053. Pieejams: https://socialinnovationsjournal.org/

Notes

Elective study course in the academic master's study program "Sociology of Organizations and Public Administration".